KOM League Flash Report 8/3/2021 Like this Bluebird building late I'm sending this report the same way.

The KOM League

Flash Report

August 3, 2021

 

After hours and hours of contemplating attempting to write another report the result is available at: www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/51355466713 Try to read it. If it isn’t possible return the unused/unread portion for a complete refund.

 

It has been nearly two months since an attempt has been made to formulate, let alone transmit a Flash Report. A lot of time has been afforded the old batboy to sit and look at his I-pad and work the Intermet looking for clues of former KOM league who were; found, never located and deceased. That is basis for this effort.

 

Leading off is the first obituary that has ever been shared in Spanish. The reason its not in English is due to my lack of bilinguality. The deceased is Ernie Garcia who I saw play at the Carthage ballpark, in 1951. He was the shortstop for Ted Gullic’s Bartlesville Pirates. He formed a good doubleplay combination with the late E. C. Leslie of Kansas City, Missouri who spent his adult life coaching/teaching high school in Lubbock, Texas.

 

Following the Ernie Garcia obituary are tributes to Richard Pertzborn of the 1947 Independence Yankees , Ray Haley of that same franchise in 1948, Ernest Jordan Jr—1950 Ponca City Dodgers, Carroll Ethan Bryan and Edward Humphrey Hughes Jr.—1952 Blackwell Broncos, Merlin Leo Jorgensen—1951 Bartlesville Pirates and 1952 Pittsburg/Bartlesville Pirates, Robert Wesley James—1951 Pittsburg Browns and another shot of identifying a member of the 1950 Bartlesville Pirates who was either James Parker Williams or James Park Williams.

 

So, sit back and relax, This is going to be a very long report. Feel free to hit the delete key at anytime. However, before doing so you might consider saving it for future reading as there isn’t a promise of future reports. That is being said due to the fact that it isn’t possible to document there are more than 136 former KOM leaguers currently emitting carbon dioxide.

 

There are possibly another 25 former KOM leaguers still on this earthly plane but either the inability to locate them, on my part, or their ignoring letters, telephone calls and e-mails it is not possible to provide an exact count.

 

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

Ernesto “Natas” Garcia

Bartlesville Pirates 2nd baseman 1951—Passed away April 2, 2017

(Jack Morris, Baseball Necrologist provided this information)

El amigo Luis Alarcón, presidente del Concejo Municipal del Salón de la Fama del Deportista Nogalense, nos da la triste noticia del sentido deceso de Ernesto “Natas” García, un excelentísimo segunda base que también marcó época en la Liga de la Costa del Pacífico, la Mexicana de Béisbol, la Invernal Sonora y Sonora-Sinaloa y la Norte de Sonora.

 

Su fallecimiento, por causas naturales de su edad, ocurrió a las 23:15 horas del sábado en la ciudad de Tucson.

 

“Natas”, nació el 7 de noviembre de 1932 en Nogales y desde el pasado 26 de enero de 2016 forma parte del Recinto Sagrado de esa frontera.

 

En la Costa del Pacífico fue parte del equipo Naranjeros de Hermosillo que se adjudicaron el bicampeonato en 1955-56 y 56-57 tripulados por Hub Kittle.

 

En la campaña del 55-56, Hermosillo tuvo a Joe Brovia, Earl “Búfalo” Averill, Bob Bowman, Leo Rodríguez, Ventura Morales, Pepe Bache, Ernesto “Natas” García y Ray Garza.

El pitcheo lo encabezaron Don Nichols y Jimmy Ochoa con 13 y 11 victorias. Los otros lanzadores fueron Pete Meza, “Ciclón” Echeverría, Arnulfo Manzo y Librado Ceceña.

 

Esa temporada le ganaron el play off por el título a Navojoa. A la siguiente repetirían en el trono, también dirigidos por Hub Kittle y donde el “Natas” fue el gran segunda base estelar.

 

Cuando la campaña 54-55, al “Natas lo encontramos luciendo en la primera serie en el Estadio de “La Casa del Pueblo” en el siguiente line up: Ernesto “Natas” García (2b), Leo Rodríguez (3b), Claudio Solano (lf), Joe Brovia (rf), Leon Kellman (ca), Dick Hogan (cf), Raymundo Garza (1b), Rubén Amaro (ss) y el pítcher Mel Queen.

 

Sin duda, otro notable equipo de esa época.

 

En 1956 fue parte de los campeones Diablos Rojos del México haciendo mancuerna con el “Chero” Mayers y estableciendo marcas en doble plays; también en 1961 ayudó al Águila de Veracruz a obtener el gallardete.

 

Sus estadísticas

 

En la Liga Mexicana de Béisbol logró los siguientes números después de 14 años de actividad donde concluyó con .278 de porcentaje de bateo.

 

Vio acción en 1,260 juegos, anotó 726 carreras, pegó 1,298 hits, 70 jonrones y produjo 485 carreras. Se estafó las bases en 36 ocasiones.

 

Se retiró en 1970.

En la Liga Invernal de Sonora y Sonora Sinaloa:

En cuatro años bateó .270, jugó 224 partidos, anotó 90 veces, pegó 230 hits, 9 jonrones e impulsó 94 carreras. Tuvo once estafas.

 

Su última temporada en el béisbol invernal fue en 1966. Descanse en paz. Nuestras condolencias a su señora esposa Alejandrina García, sus hijas Mayra y Diana Duarte, así como sus seis nietos.

 

Sólo once en MLB

 

Qué cosa: de los once peloteros mexicanos en la Gran Carpa, 10 son lanzadores!

Únicamente el “Titán” figura en un line up ligamayorista, ya sabe usted, como todo un estelar de los Dodgers de Los Ángeles.

 

La lista de pitchers, la compone: Jorge de la Rosa (Dbacks); Marco Estrada y Roberto Osuna (Toronto); Yovani Gallardo (Seattle); Óliver Pérez y Fernando Salas (Mets); Sergio Romo (Dodgers); Jaime García (Bravos); Joakim Soria (KC), y Miguel González (White Sox).

 

Tendré que volverme a poner los arreos y ponerme en forma para buscar una oportunidad en la Gran Carpa y acompañar a Adrián.

 

Claro, hay paisanos con probabilidad de ascender: Sebastián Elizalde (Rojos); Daniel Castro, de nuevo (Rockies); Xorge Carrillo (Mets); Christian Villanueva (Padres), y Alí Solís (Dodgers)).

Y como pitchers, Cesar Vargas (Padres), Luis Cessa y Giovanny Gallegos (NYY); Rafael Martín (Mets) y Julio Urías y Manny Bañuelos (Dodgers).

 

Ed comment:

 

It is possible to go through each paragraph of Garcia’s obituary and figure out how long he played, some of his statistics and some of the better known names of guys with whom he played. I believe he was also a scout and it appears that he signed a young man by the name of Gallegos, for the Yankees, who is now the property of the St. Louis Cardinals and threw an inning of relief as late as August 1, 2021.

 

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Ray Haley—1948 Independence Yankee catcher

 

RAYMOND HALEY Obituary (1928 - 2021) - ELGIN, IL - Daily Herald (legacy.com)

 

ELGIN - Raymond M. "Ray" Haley, 92, of Elgin,Illinois passed away on June 18, 2021 surrounded by his family. He was born on December 24, 1928, in Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO the son of John and Phyllis (Gwinn) Haley. Ray was a veteran and served in the US Army during the Korean War. He was a standout athlete in high school and college and at age 16, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. He played with both the Cardinal and Yankees organizations in their minor leagues.

 

Ray graduated from Southwest Missouri State University where he played football and was inducted into the schools' Hall of Fame in 1977, having his jersey retired 2010. After obtaining his Masters' Degree from LSU University, he was recruited to teach and coach football at East Aurora High School. While teaching in Aurora, he met and married the love of his life: Donna Ridge Haley. They were married on August 25, 1956 and raised 3 daughters. Ray became part of the team that opened Larkin High School in 1962 as their Head Football Coach, and eventually became Athletic Director, until his retirement in 1990. He was passionate for Larkin High School and the Royals Football program. Ray felt fortunate to work with outstanding administrators, teachers, coaches, staff, students and Booster families.

 

He will be deeply missed. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Elgin, a charter member of the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame, inducted in 1992; inducted into the Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1986 and member the Elgin Noon Kiwanis Club. Survivors include his three daughters, Jennifer (Carol) Haley, Jane (Paul) Duffy and Kris (Tom) Buda; 2 grandchildren, Jack Haley Duffy and Kevin Ridge Haley Duffy; along with many nieces, nephews, family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Donna in 1998; and a sister, Juanita Dawson. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, July 10, 2021, beginning with visitation from 9:00am-11:00am and a service immediately follow at the First United Methodist Church, Elgin. Burial will be private at the National Cemetery in Springfield, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Elgin, IL or the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame. Laird Funeral Home, Elgin, is in care of arrangements. 847-741-8800 or www.lairdfamilyfuneralservices.com.

 

Ed comment

 

Ray Haley attended many KOM league events and even made a trip to my baseball dungeon to take a look at something he helped purchase for the Don Davis family at the close of the 1948 season. The item was a brass horse with a detachable saddle. The price of the steed was around $100 and also chipping in to purchase it were; Al Pilarcik, Jim Finigan, Billy Bagwell, Nick Ananias, Jim Davis and Charley Joe Fontana.

 

That horse came to graze in the KOM League Hall of Fame pasture in the 1990’s and if memory serves correctly it has been shared in story and image in previous reports. It must be said that over all those 73 years the animal looks as good as the day it was presented to the Davis family for their kindness and friendship to the Independence players. The horse made it way to Reno, Nevada, from Independence after the eldest of the Davis family passed away. The daughter went to Independence, from Reno, to settle the estate. After arriving in Reno she decided it needed to be around the KOM crowd and it has been given good care for going a a quarter century. Incidentally, it is looking over my shoulder as this is being written.

 

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Richard Pertzborn—Pitcher 1947 Independence Yankees

 

Richard J. Pertzborn, 93, of Ankeny, Iowa, died due to complications of Parkinson’s disease on December 30th, 2020. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, January 7 at 12:00 pm, with visitation starting at 11:00 am at All Saints Catholic Church, Des Moines, Iowa.

 

A private burial will be at Glendale Cemetery. Richard was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from Dowling High School in 1945. While attending Dowling he enjoyed playing sports. He was a standout catcher on the baseball team which led to an invitation to tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals Farm Team.

 

He put his baseball career on hold to serve his country and joined the United States Marine Corps serving stateside in World War II and the Korean War. After serving his country he pursued his dream of playing baseball professionally and signed with the NY Yankees. He played with the KMO league (Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma). Unfortunately, a shoulder injury ended his baseball career. In 1948 he married the love of his life, Maryann Fehn. They built their home in Ankeny, Iowa, where they raised nine children.

 

Richard became a successful independent insurance agent, earning numerous professional achievements. It’s easy to see why he was so successful, he was a hardworking, dedicated, trustworthy, outgoing man who enjoyed talking with anyone. Richard was involved in several organizations and served on many boards. He was the first Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Church in Ankeny, Iowa. He also served on boards with the Serra Club, Colfax Interfaith Spiritual Center and Dowling High School.

 

Richard was a loving husband, an amazing father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He coached many of his kid’s sports teams and was a very involved father in all their activities. Richard became an avid runner later in life. He could run for miles and miles which led to participating in many marathons around the world. He also enjoyed participating in the Iowa Senior Games for many years.

 

Richard is survived by four daughters Pam Pertzborn of Waukee, Sue Weed of Des Moines, Mindy Pertzborn of Urbandale and Cris (Jon) Pertzborn-Klatt of Ankeny, along with five sons Rick (Judy) of West Des Moines, Mike (Roxi) of Storm Lake, Tim (Barb) of Des Moines, Bob (Kathy) of Ankeny and Tom (Cindy) of Dallas, Texas; in addition to 25 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Maryann, a great grandson, son-in-law, two sisters, and parents. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to: All Saints Catholic Church, 650 NE 52nd Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50313 Scottish Rite Park Attn: Health Care Center: 2909 Woodland Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50312 Dowling Catholic High School for Scholarships: 1400 Buffalo Road, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265. The service will be live streamed at www.caldwellparissh.com

 

Ed comment:

 

In 1995 my job landed me in Des Moines, Iowa where I worked on a proposal writing team to elicit bids, from private companies, to process Medicaid claims. During my spare time contact was made with former KOM leaguers living in the Des Moines and surrounding area. Through that process a number of guys, filling that bill, were located and a number of meals were eaten in restaurants and even in their homes.

 

Richard Pertzborn was one of the fellows I broke bread bread with both in his home and restaurants. The most memorable event was visiting his home in Ankeny and sitting on the patio. From there was the greatest spectacle I had ever witnessed. There were more hummingbird feeders in his backyard than I had ever seen in my life. I marveled at the number of birds at the feeder and the effort and money it took to feed them. Being a busy executive with Northwest Mutual Life Insurance, Pertzborn gave all the credit to his wife for caring for the sugar drinkers.

 

After leaving Iowa, in late summer of 1995, there was contact with the deceased for many years through the newsletter. With the onset of his Alzheimer's that all came to an end.

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Edward Humphrey Hughes Jr. 1952 Blackwell Broncos and a one-day “look see” with the Ponca City Dodgers the same year

 

obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?...

Edward Hughes Jr.

January 26, 1934 - May 8, 2018

Obituary

 

Ed Hughes, also known as the Big Guy was born January 26, 1934 and passed May 8, 2018 at the age of 84. He was born in Bloomfield, Missouri but a resident of Cape Coral for 21 years. A beloved man who cared genuinely for his family and friends. Ed was the epitome of a gentleman and a gentle-man. Mr. Hughes experienced life as a former minor league baseball pitcher, a printing and advertising professional for 50 years, and a golf enthusiast. He leaves his surviving wife Marie Hughes and their six children: Cindy Hughes, Diane Zoechbauer, Bettina Bogdanoff (Ron), Ron Laduke (Kristy), Nicole Fable (Adam), Danielle Zimmerman (Brett). 13 Grandchildren: Gary, Lacey, Nicky, Alex, Cindy, Avery, Rebecca, Brianna, Brooke, Jessica, Brandon, Abigail, and Ethan. 4 Great Grandchildren: Jade, Decland, Violet, and Avery. He will be forever loved and remembered. In lieu of flowers, the family recommend donations in Ed's honor to Cape Royal Community Foundation 11963 Prince Charles Court Cape Coral, FL 33991.

 

Services held May 12th, 2018 11 AM our lady of the Miraculous Medal Church

 

Ed comment:

 

Several issues ago this forum mentioned the difficulty in locating Mr. Hughes. A great deal was known about him as both his mother and father were pastors in the Church of God denomination. They moved around quite a bit, as pastors are destined to do. Their service to the church saw them pastor mostly in Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois. Although a lot of effort was expended in searching for Edward Humphrey Hughes Jr. while he was alive it took an obituary to identify what became of him after baseball. If, in the afterlife, it is permissible to talk about baseball some time will be set aside to ask questions of “The Big Guy” and if Flash Reports are allowed, this story can be embellished and shared. (Be sure to send a forwarding address)

 

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Merlin Leo Jorgensen 1951-52 Bartlesville- Pittsburg Catcher

obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?...

 

Sioux Falls - Merlin L. Jorgensen, of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away March 13, 2021, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. He was 88.

 

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, March 17 at 1:00 PM at Miller Westside Chapel, 6200 W 41st St, Sioux Falls, SD.

 

Merlin is survived by his wife, Marlene, Sioux Falls; sons, Rod (Lynn) Jorgensen and Scott (Vicky) Jorgensen of Sioux Falls; daughter LeAnn (Alex) Van Amerongen of Lebanon, IL; brothers, Roger and Larry of Sioux Falls;brother in law Wally Collier of Garretson, SD; friend, Tamara Jorgensen of Sioux Falls and six grandchildren, Casey, Nick, Kyle, Christina, Thaniel and Alexa and 7 great grandchildren.

 

Merlin, son of Ervin and Florence (Overgaard) Jorgensen, was born on January 12, 1933 near Turkey Ridge, SD. After graduating Centerville high school in 1951, Merlin played pro baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1951, 1952, and 1955, played with the Yankton Terry’s from 1956-1958. He played Amateur Ball until 1972 and was involved with youth baseball for numerous years. Merlin graduated from SDSU in 1959. And also served in the Army from 1953 to 1955.

Merlin was united in marriage to Marlene Payson June 27, 1956 and had three children.

He enjoys baseball, golf, fishing, crossword puzzles and is an avid Minnesota Twins fan and Vikings fan. Merlin also enjoyed traveling to see family.

 

Merlin is survived by his wife, Marlene, Sioux Falls; sons, Rod (Lynn) Jorgensen and Scott (Vicky) Jorgensen of Sioux Falls; daughter LeAnn (Alex) Van Amerongen of Lebanon, IL; brothers, Roger and Larry of Sioux Falls; brother in law Wally Collier of Garretson, SD; friend, Tamara Jorgensen of Sioux Falls and six grandchildren, Casey, Nick, Kyle, Christina, Thaniel and Alexa; 7 great grandchildren; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

 

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Robert Jorgensen; sisters Alice Lanpher and Jeanette (Nettie) Collier.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to King of Glory Church in memory of Merlin.

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Ernest Jordan Jr. 1950 Ponca City Dodgers

 

www.laureloaksfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Ernest-Jordan?ob...

 

Mr. Ernest Jordan passed away Monday night, November 30, 2020 in Allen, Texas. He was born November 4, 1930 and just celebrated his 90th birthday. His parents were Ernest and Daisy Jordan. He leaves behind his dear wife, Wanda Jordan, devoted son, Al Jordan, and a number of other family and friends.

 

There will be a graveside service at 1 p.m. at Laurel Oaks Memorial Park with Rev. Ted Kiser officiating. Mr. Jordan will be laid to rest in the Garden of Hope near his son, James Ernest Jordan, who preceded him in death last year

 

This guy pitched for Ponca City in 1950. He won the final game of the 1950 championship and catcher, Don Keeter, kept the baseball that he gave me 45 years later.

 

I have tracked Jordan for over 25 years but could never make contact. I knew he was from San Mateo, California and suspected he was living in Texas.

 

To the best of my knowledge neither Jordan or his father had a middle name.

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Robert Wesley James-- Pittsburg Browns 1951.

 

Robert (Bob) Wesley James, born May 18, 1933 to George Elmer and Bertha James in Datto, Arkansas passed away on March 19, 2021.

 

Bob signed with the St Louis Browns baseball team after graduating from Corning High School and later signed with the Yankees being sent to their farm team in McAlester, Oklahoma. The Korean War interrupted his baseball career. After serving in the army he obtained a business degree from Arkansas State University. Building on the foundation established by their parents, he and his two brothers built a successful agricultural service business in Northeast Arkansas. After moving to Texas, he began anew by starting a successful builder’s service company which provided project site services to commercial builders as well as large single and multi-family homebuilders. Bob›s favorite pastimes were sports, including golf in his later years, and music of all genres.

 

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Donald Ray and George Elmer (G.E.), Jr.

He is survived by his wife Sue, children Jamie (Steve) Zissis, Angela James, Brett James, and Julie (Dan) Cutforth. Grandchildren Nicholas and Alexander Zissis, Natalie, Ella, Josephine and Robenson Cutforth. Step-children Kim (Jay) LeForce, Kelley (Michael) Evans and step-grandchildren Cassidie and Maggie Cargill and Brendan Evans. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Marble Falls, Texas on May 1, 2021 at 1:00 pm. A graveside service will be held at Nelson Clay Cemetery in Datto, Arkansas at a later date.

In lieu of flowers please consider St Jude›s Children›s Hospital in Memphis.

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Ed comment: This is another guy I knew about but couldn't trace. He pitched in the second game of a doubleheader on July 1, 1951, the night the Carthage Cubs went off and left me at the Pittsburg ball park. James was a little guy and made his first mound appearances that night and held Carthage in check for one inning, the 9th. Lloyd “Pat” Gosney started that game for Pittsburg and hurled eight inning in hot, muggy weather. He struck out 13 Carthage batsmen and walked 12. He most likely threw more pitches that night than current major league starters are allowed to throw in two or three games.

 

James later played in the Yankee chain for the McAlester Rockets and Joplin Miners. I was aware he had moved to Texas and was living in Plano at one time. With his funeral being at Marble Falls, Plano might well have been where he died. The Corning, Ark. newspaper was not explicit on the place of death.

 

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Carroll Ethan Bryan

 

In order to get an idea about who Mr. Bryan was the reader is going to have to click on some URL’s. Believe me, it isn’t that difficult. That is not has taxing as it has been searching for a fellow who showed up at Blackwell, Oklahoma just long enough to don a uniform and give it back in a couple of days.

 

For a number of years it was speculated the Bryan who showed up at Blackwell in 1952 was a Edwin Charles Bryan Jr. , from Belleville, Illinois with a rather extensive minor league career. However, following more detailed research it couldn’t have been him for he went into the Army in February of of that year.

 

Thanks to this site www.findagrave.com/memorial/26604258/carroll-ethan-bryan a better understanding developed regarding this short term Blackwell Bronco hurler who appeared in only one game.

 

As the link to his mortality indicates, he was born in 1927 and by the time he showed up for a shot at the KOM leaguer he was nearly 25 years of age. He had already served during WW II and with the younger men being drafted he obviously decided to try his hand in baseball. He was living in a rural area outside Wister, Oklahoma. Sixty five miles to the west is the town of McAlester which had a team called the Rockets that played in the Sooner State league. He signed with the Rockets on April 12, 1951 and he was released June 7 of that same year. However, in August he was re-singed for 1952 and after a couple of days in spring drills with the Rockets he was released and he made the 205 mile trek North to Blackwell where he fared no better. digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/11908/...

 

Bryan passed away May 11, 1994 in Poteau, Oklahoma and was buried at the Maxey Cemetery in his hometown of Wister. Not many people outside the Le Flore County town ever knew of Bryan’s love of baseball and most likely he never imagined someone would be writing about his “brush” with the bush leagues 69 years after he gave up his dream of “making it big.”

 

Had Bryan played longer there would most likely be information on him such as height and weight. He was 5’ 11” and weighed 145 pounds when entering the Army in 1945. Most likely he was in the 170 category by the time he tried his hand at professional baseball.

 

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A long standing puzzle

 

For over a decade the name of James Williams has been bandied back and forth with baseball necrologist, Jack Morris. It could never be ascertained if James Parker Williams shown on the Sporting News Index Card was the same person who died as James Parks Williams in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

 

In recent communication Morris said his group couldn’t verify it was the same person unless they saw a reference to him in a newspaper.

 

digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/162958... James Parker Williams

 

My case is that I saw his name in the Bartlesville Examiner from some time in April of 1950. He was listed as being a native of McRae, Arkansas. That fits with the town listed in his obituary.

 

www.findagrave.com/memorial/148343743/jimmie-parks-williams James Parks Williams.

 

With that issue still dangling in mid-air a decision was made to review the obituary and make an attempt to locate a surviving member of his family. His son was chosen and the attempt to locate him wound up finding that he also passed away in recent years. Thus, it may be like speaking with Mr. Hughes, mentioned in the previous story, it will have to wait until we all pass through the pearly gates to find out who the real Jimmy Williams, was.

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Do the editor of this Flash Report a favor or two.

 

In late 1948 my mother received a telephone call from a former friend who was moving back to Carthage, Missouri from Madill, Oklahoma. The caller said she had a son about my age and he didn’t know anyone and wondered if my mother would either send me to her house or if her son could come and play baseball at mine. Since we had the largest yard the young man and his mother came for a visit.

 

Over the coming months and years the young man from Madill became my close friend. Between us was one bicycle. We lived a mile apart and when he had the urge to play baseball he would dial 3808 and ask me to get on “Betsy” (my bicycle) and peddle toward his house where he would meet me and he would be the designated peddler to my house for he was the bigger one us. By the way when I called my friend it was 3676. Some things never leave your memory.

 

After the baseball games concluded, back down Valley Street I went as my new friend peddled toward his home on Orchard Street. This routine lasted for a couple of years. When spring training rolled around my friend would peddle “Betsy,” with me on the back and a couple of mile journey would ensue to one of three spring training sites of the Carthage Cubs, Topeka Owls, Janesville Cubs and Sioux Falls, Canaries. The primary reasons for the spring training jaunts were to collect the broken bats and “find” a few stray baseballs for the upcoming summer’s games played in my back yard.

 

Baseball was the summer activity, football in the fall and basketball whenever. My friend was on the opposing football team on Thanksgiving Day, 1951. As the quarterback on my two-man team made a fateful decision to dive for a loose ball and received a severely broken left arm. That most likely prevented my making it to the big leagues. Football was out of the question and my friend improvised when it came to basketball. He was the most gifted among us and he’d take the rim from a can of coffee, make a net out of an orange sack and place it on a stud in a little shed on the property of the second house in lived in after coming back to Carthage. The ball we used was of the tennis genre and we came across those at the tennis court across the street from the Carthage baseball stadium. My friend had that miniature basketball game down to a science and he skunked me every time.

 

Upon my becoming the batboy for the Carthage Cubs I talked my friend into showing up early so that he could be the batboy for the visiting team. As with everything else he was a step ahead of me. Standing by the Pittsburg dugout one evening he was admiring the timber of that club when manager, Bill Enos, strode our way. My friend was impressed by the bat that had the name “Enos” on it. He thought it was a model used by Enos Slaughter of the St. Louis Cardinals. Enos asked my buddy if he liked it and upon the affirmative he was handed it. Enos said “I can’t get any hits with it so you might as well have it.”

 

My buddy was a year older than me and that brought an eventual end of our many hours playing baseball and other games. What happened very shortly thereafter is that my friend discovered girls. He had to split his time between being with the guys and his newly found friend. At one time my friends oldest brother discovered my oldest sister and had it not been for the Korean War, and his brother serving in it, my buddy and I might have been “almost kin.”

 

During his latter years in high school my buddy moved “out west” to South Central Kansas. One day in high school my English teacher said that she had received a short story that won a national award. It was written by my friend. As she read the story, which was about sports, I kept awaiting to discover the mystery person he was leading up to for the finale. For some reason I thought it might say “Johnny Hall.” Of course, he didn’t. But, at that point I knew George Robert “Corky” Simpson was destined to be an outstanding writer. The attached URL will vindicate that as a high school junior my prognostication was on target.

 

tucson.com/sports/greghansen/hansens-hundred-no-75-corky-...

 

Did you click on the URL?

 

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Cousin of another friend comes home 70 years after end of Korean War.

 

A few editions ago there was a story shared about the remains being identified as a solder from WWII. That person was from Baxter Springs, Kansas and his brothers played for the Baxter Springs Whiz Kids before and during Mickey Mantle’s time there.

Late this spring another buddy from Carthage, (Gary W. Smith) sent me a note about his cousin who was killed in Korea and his remains were recently identified and returned for burial. I imagine the deceased had attended some KOM league prior to his entering the U. S. Army.

 

During my time as Carthage batboy I recall the consternation among some of the guys who knew what was on the horizon. It was a tough period for one Carthage pitcher who had been told he would finish the 1951 before being inducted. He left the team on July 20, 1951. Just one year, one month and one day later he was killed in North Korea. I have told this story a number of times but I never learned of the death of Walter Koehler until four decades later when the research on the KOM league began. Here is the link for Lloyd Alumbaugh.

 

obituaries.joplinglobe.com/obituary/lloyd-alumbaugh-10826...

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Coming to the end

 

Once in a while a question is sent from a reader of this reports and even less often there is an answer tucked away in the dark recesses of my mind. Follow along.

 

From a Tulsa reader

 

Hello, John, I've been reading "The Pine Tar Game" by Filip Bondy. ttps://www.amazon.com/Pine-Tar-Game-Entertaining-Controversy/dp/1476777187/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3RL94A5822LGO&dchild=1&keywords=the+pine+tar+game&qid=1627862188&sprefix=The+Pine+Tar+game%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-2

 

On page 167, in talking about Lee MacPhail, the author writes:

 

“In 1946, he became general manager of the Yankees' Triple-A team in Kansas City, while his father was still the Yanks' top executive in New York. He remembered being at a Blanton, Missouri, tryout camp where some teenager named Mickey Mantle showed up with his father, Mutt.”

 

I tried to find Blanton, Missouri, but with no luck. No reference could be found. Just curious where it was. You ever hear of it? Thanks.

 

Ed reply:

 

There is no such town. My guess he was talking about Branson. Make sense? Mantle never went to a tryout camp in Branson. He went there for about a week after being signed by the Yankees in 1949. He came to Independence for a couple of days and left with the team for Chanute, Kansas for a June 12th game that was rained out.

 

Then he was back to Branson in 1950 (for spring training) and came out as a member of the Joplin Miners.

 

Ed comment:

 

That brings up one more thing. A couple of weeks ago Jimmy Richardson, one of Mickey Mantle’s first cousins, on the maternal side, called regarding purchasing a few more of the “Mickey Mantle Before the Glory” books. At that time he mentioned that his younger brother, Tom, had passed away in recent months. Tom is the guy mentioned in the Mantle book who attempted to ride the family cow out of the barn and it turned out to be quite an experience. For those who have that book, look up the story. For those who don’t there a “few” unread copies in my secret stash that are either going bald or turning gray.

Done